Welcome to our Kid's Health Blog by School is Easy Tutoring

The World Health Organization recently declared processed meat as carcinogenic as cigarettes and alcohol. There have been a number of media reports on this statement, as well as some rebuttals on how this may not entirely be the case. All the flurry of debate and discussion about this topic has highlighted one fact — food and nutrition is a big deal. For example, when it comes to education, it’s very hard to do well in school if children don’t have a baseline of good health. Yet, this seems to be the case for many kids in Canada — according to Health Canada statistics, about one in three kids under 17 are overweight or obese. Indeed, in an interview with the Tyee.ca, one health advocacy group said that our country is facing a “health crisis.” So with all this in mind, we’re going to be tackling kids’ health and nutrition today.

Who’s responsible for kids’ health and nutrition at school? Schools or parents?

Some may suggest that schools bear responsibility for keeping students healthy. However, the reality is that parents will have to depend on themselves if they want to guarantee that their kids have a good lunch. Many of our schools offer lunch programs, but Canada is the only G7 country to have no national student lunch program.

That suggests the quality of lunch for students can vary widely depending on the family, or the province’s lunch programs. Some may be great, while others not so much.

The first Tyee.ca article we mentioned above says that at least in B.C., food programs have generally been aimed at giving underprivileged kids access to meals. But that article says a school-wide nutrition program was not the primary focus. The article suggests the goal was on supplying food, but not necessarily making kids eat right.

With that in mind, if your child is in a school that provides or sells food, and you are concerned about their nutrition, check and ask your school about their lunch program or cafeteria options. If you feel your kids aren’t getting fed properly, it would be wise to educate your children yourself. This will help them make wise nutritional decisions at school. For example, they may think twice before buying junk food from school vending machines.

Baby steps are a great way to teach kids health and nutrition

For the next part of the article, we’re going to assume that you’ve taught your kids the very basics of the food pyramid. If you haven’t, then we’d advise you do so! That being said, we will now focus on how to make dietary changes that last.

Forcing kids to stop eating junk food immediately is a plan that sometimes can be too hard to stick to. Some kids may stop for a little while, only to binge when given a chance to eat sweets. Others may simply start sneaking in candies when parents aren’t looking. Anyone who’s tried out a radical diet and exercise plan will know how difficult dieting can be for adults, let alone kids!

The best changes are often done in slow, incremental, and consistent steps. We’d like to use the example of Leo Babauta, who was listed by TIME magazine as a top 25 blogger for his site, Zen Habits. He went from being an overweight, sedentary smoker to a marathon-running vegetarian. Perhaps one of his best tips is to make very small, but permanent and consistent exercise and diet changes.

For example, if you want your kids to eat healthy, start by gradually increasing the amount of greens that they eat while subtracting the amount of sweets they consume.

As far as getting the food into the mouths of picky kids, helpguide.org has some practical suggestions. For instance, involving kids in the creation of meals is a big help. According to the site, kids are often more receptive to eating food if they had a hand in cooking or preparing it. Give kids simple tasks like cutting carrots. If a safety is a concern, there are children-friendly knives and kitchen tools that you can find online. Curiouschef.com is one example.

Regarding exercise, if it is impossible for your kids to wake up every day to run before school, have them run around the block for 5 minutes after they get home. Or if that’s too hard, get them to do five push-ups a day and leave it at that. Then, gradually increase the amount of exercise they do.

Celebrate every milestone, no matter how small

Yes, it is true this gradual method will take a lot of time. But the important thing is that these changes can be easier to maintain in the long run. There is no use in attempting to lose 50 pounds in a month only to gain it back after ‘falling off the wagon.’

Also, it is important to recognize progress. Make sure you use plenty of positive reinforcement to encourage your kids to stick to their changed habits, no matter how small. This will help them develop patience and determination — both of which are necessary to achieving any goals in life.

Music is all around us. Every time we turn on the TV, see a movie, or go to a store, there’s a good chance there’s background music playing. And of course, that’s not even including the times when we actively seek out music to listen to! Research has found that music affects our brains and behaviour in powerful ways. For example, did you know that music can have an influence on how much money we spend at a store? So for today’s post, we’ll examine how we can use this art to  help out kids. We’ll take a look at how music heals students.

The benefits: how does music heal students?

Probably one of the most tangible benefits that music has on kids, is that it can be great for their mental health. For example, some studies have shown that listening to tunes can reduce stress and anxiety. That can be a big help, because stress and anxiety are easily one of the biggest hurdles that kids have to conquer at school. Need proof? Psychology Today reports that the average high school student has about the same level of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient in the early 1950s. The same article says that about 49 per cent of today’s general population has some sort of history with an anxiety-related condition.

So how does music help treat anxiety? It’s hard to tell. One study found the act of listening or performing music can affect our bodies. For instance, it can lower blood pressure, heart rate and cortisol levels, which are all associated with anxiety and stress. So what, you may ask? It means that music can be used as a powerful alternative to anti-anxiety drugs. The study we linked to above showed that listening to calming tunes was more effective at treating anxiety among people about to go through surgery than prescription medication!

What kind of music heals students?

It should be understood that not all music is equal. Much of the studies that found positive benefits in music were examining songs that were described as ‘relaxing.’  For example, the first study we referenced used slow flute instrumentals to help patients calm down. Many of the studies we referenced seemed to find downtempo instrumentals beneficial, so introducing your children to that music first might be a good starting point. Observe how they react, and if you see the clinical benefits described above, try continuing. If not, try a different genre of music and try to figure out if your child is getting any therapeutic benefits from those songs.

However, you should keep an open mind. There can be health benefits in even the most unexpected places. One study found that heavy metal music can not only help process anger but also lead to feelings of calmness. So the next time you hear your long-haired, leather-jacket-and-spikes-wearing teen rocking out, maybe you should ask him or her to turn it up, rather than down!

Can performing music give students health benefits?

In a word, yes. For instance, singing has been found to be a confidence-booster which provides many boosts to the body that are often associated with exercise. Some examples include endorphin boosts and decreased levels of depression and anxiety. Percussion and drumming have also been been used to help Alzheimer’s patients and sharpen focus among those with autism. Rapping has been found to be very helpful in combatting depression and, as we mentioned earlier, rock and metal can help process negative emotions like anger.

And, while not directly related to ‘healing,’ This TED-Ed video explains that musicians ‘exercise’ their brain to the degree that they get better at memory, and “mental function.”

Where should you start?

At School is Easy Tutoring, we believe no two children are ever the same. It’s the approach we take to teaching, and we think that the same can be said when using music to heal students. Watch your kids. Try to figure out what music best matches their personality, and introduce them to positive songs from that genre. Are your kids fascinated with complex guitar work? Maybe rock and roll can work for them. Do they like inventive wordplay? Perhaps rap can help. Are they interested in movie soundtracks? Maybe orchestral music is best. Keep an open mind, but also try to steer your students towards positive songs. It should go without saying that you should educate your children about the difference between positive and negative influences in music, first.

Technology can be a wonderful tool for helping children learn. For example, with the help of the Internet, we can now access a wealth of information that was previously impossible to get a hold of. But there can be drawbacks to having technology. Health problems that were previously thought to be only present in adults are now starting to happen to younger people. Today, we’re going to be focusing on preventing carpal tunnel syndrome in kids.

What causes carpal tunnel syndrome in kids?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is an injury that often results from doing repetitive tasks with your hands over long periods of time. There’s an area in your wrist called the carpal tunnel, and overworking your hands can cause the neighbouring median nerve to swell and put pressure on the carpal tunnel. The symptoms include numbness, a feeling of pins and needles in your hands, and pain.

Good examples of activities where carpal tunnel would be high risk are playing piano, hammering nails, performing surgery, and — you guessed it — typing on a keyboard, phone or tablet. Previously, keyboarding was the domain of clerical workers, but now that just about everyone has a computer, carpal tunnel is becoming a more common problem. Children are starting to use computers at younger and younger ages, so it stands to reason that there could be a greater risk of kids getting carpal tunnel syndrome.

Preventing carpal tunnel syndrome in kids

At its worst, carpal tunnel syndrome can require surgery to fix. But don’t panic! More often than not, carpal tunnel syndrome in kids can be either treated or prevented with relative ease.

As the old adage goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So we’d recommend teaching children at an early age how to use a keyboard properly.

1. Carpal tunnel syndrome is often caused by awkward positioning of the hands — typing while having your wrists bent is an absolute no-no. This constricts the nerves in your wrists and makes them prone to injury. As a rule of thumb, WebMD says that your hands should not be lower than your wrists.
2. Look at your child’s work space. There are many factors that can cause your child to strain his or her wrists. For example, look at the height of your child’s desk and chair. A workspace too low or high can cause awkward hand positions.
3. Pay attention to good posture. If your child’s shoulders are hunched and tensed, that can affect their typing position. You would also do well to examine if bad posture is resulting from an awkward workspace (for example, desks and chairs that are too high, low or far apart) or if your child just needs a few pointers on how to sit and type properly — for instance, don’t slouch, keep your back straight, etc.
4. Study keyboarding ergonomics. In a nutshell, this is basically the practice of finding the most efficient way to position yourself and your computer when working. There are plenty of resources you can find. Cornell University has one example.

Treating carpal tunnel syndrome in kids

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be anything from inconvenient to crippling. We recommend checking in  with your kids regularly to see how they are feeling. Are they experiencing pins and needles when typing? Mayoclinic.org recommends that you stop your kids and ice their hands. Schedule frequent breaks, preferably before pain starts to set in. And it’s best to explain to your children that a minimum amount of effort is needed when typing. Carpal tunnel is often exacerbated when banging hard on a keyboard, the above mayoclinic.org article says.

Beyond scheduling breaks and icing, wearing a splint at night can help relieve carpal tunnel syndrome in kids. That’s because it forces wrists to stay in a straight position for a prolonged period of time. This gives inflamed nerves time to recover.

Be vigilant — carpal tunnel syndrome often strikes slowly

Students, especially younger children, will have a hard time self-monitoring because carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms do not happen suddenly. They are a cumulative effect of days, months and years of stress. So it would be wise to regularly check your kids’ posture. Ask them if they are feeling any discomfort in their wrists. And make children take regular breaks from keyboarding.

As parents we’re always on the lookout for our kids’ health. In many populated areas, it’s not uncommon to have daycares and schools with lots of students huddled together for hours. Some parents think this can be a health problem waiting to happen. But in reality, how easily do children get sick?

Younger children get sick more often

Kids five years or younger typically get sick the most. That improves with age. Immune systems are fully developed when children hit 12 to 14.

The type of transmission and illness can determine how easily children get sick

The type of disease and the kind of contact determines what your child is more at risk for. Take a look at the bullet points below. So for example, if children are touching each other (e.g. a game of tag, high-fiving etc.) they’ll be more at risk to contract bacteria, viruses and parasites. Here is a great video to show kids about the ways they can get sick (including cross-contamination), and the importance of washing their hands.

This is because that’s how those infections are transmitted. If your kids are with other children who don’t cover their mouths when they sneeze, they’ll be more at risk for the common cold, since the cold is transmitted through the air. So take a moment and examine the information below to see if any of these scenarios apply to your children.

1. Direct contact can spread infections from bacteria, viruses and parasites. Some of the examples of infections caused by this include impetigo, scabies, lice, chickenpox, cold sores, ringworm and pinkeye. The best way to prevent this from happening is by encouraging children to wash their hands often. Keep infected areas covered as well.
2. Respiratory transmission is when children breathe respiratory droplets from an infected person’s lungs. Examples of this include the common cold, the flu, chickenpox and pneumonia. Keeping children at home might be a good idea to prevent these illnesses from spreading.
3. Fecal oral transmission is pretty much just as it sounds. Teach your children to wash their hands thoroughly after using the washroom. If they are too young to use a restroom, take extra care when changing their diapers. The consequences can be illnesses such as diarrhea, pinworms, and hepatitis A.
4. Blood transmission happens when your children come into contact with another person’s blood. Teach your children to report whenever they’ve been hurt and ask them if anyone had also drawn blood nearby. Examples include scraped knees in a soccer match (did the child you checked also get a bloody knee?), a schoolyard fight (did both of you get bloody noses?). Pay attention to the information your child gives you, and visit the doctor if you feel any cause for concern. Blood-transmitted illnesses include HIV, Hepatitis B or C, or cytomegalovirus.

Kids will be playing in the grass a lot — how easily can children get sick playing in parks or outdoors on vacation?

Kids play in tons of green space. Whatever local municipality you live in, there will probably be a park close to your home. When you’re on vacation, you may spend a lot of time in nature. That means there will be plenty of chances for your kids to play in the grass and murky waters. So how easily can children get sick when tussling in the green stuff?

Well, like most things in life, everything depends on the context. It seems how easily children get sick from playing in the grass is related to how often they’ve played in it beforehand. Kids who’ve played in grass more have tougher immune systems. So it seems like they won’t get sick as easily.

But take swimming in lakes and oceans, or even pools for example. Here is a video explaining diseases you can contract from swimming. Also rare, but real, is contacting the Amoeba disease through swimming in very warm waters (or using infected water), usually in hotter climates. No matter how small the likelihood is, parents should be aware. It never hurts to take a few minutes to check on any municipal announcements regarding lakes or swimming areas before diving in.

But there can be downsides. Lawn care chemicals can be harmful to anyone playing on the green stuff. The bottom line? Do some research about the place if you want peace of mind. Contact whichever municipality is in charge of the park to see what kind of fertilizers they use. And should you trust deet as an insect repellent? DNews explains this issue.

That brings us to the case of bug bites. This is no small issue. According to DNews, “mosquitos are considered one of the deadliest animals on earth with their ability to spread diseases.” Also, take the example of tick bites, which can go unnoticed, or mistreated at first.

Some ticks spread Lyme disease, and knowing whether you’ve contracted the disease is not as easy to catch as we might think. It’s not always the case that you get the ‘ring’ around the bite, and initial symptoms may seem like an ordinary cold, or another condition. The other problem is that Lyme can remain dormant for a long period before attacking the body. And when it does, it can be painful and debilitating in many ways. The reason for the symptoms could be a mystery at that point. Watch this video from DNews for more information on the topic, which is increasingly warranting more attention in the media.

Mingling with lots of tourists while travelling can expose children to illness

As you may have heard, there was an outbreak of measles in Disneyland earlier this year. This case had everyone pointing fingers at a variety of purported causes. But perhaps one key lesson to take from this is to be vigilant about illnesses when frequenting areas where there are a lot of travellers.

The Center for Disease Control says travel is related to the spread of sickness, so it would be wise to take precautions when passing through areas with many travellers. An example would be to wash hands more often when frequenting tourist attractions. For example, like Stanley Park in Vancouver. Simple steps like these can reduce how easily your kids get sick. Be sure to check Health Canada’s travel advisories before leaving your city as well.

Herd immunity can determine how easily your child gets sick

Another thing to take note — how easily your children get sick is also related to how healthy their friends and classmates are. If your child is surrounded by others who do not get sick easily, chances are he or she will not get sick easily. This also works in the opposite direction. Surrounding your kids with others who are easily sick increases their chances of falling ill. This is called herd immunity, and those of you who are statistically inclined may want to examine the illness rates of your community (or herd) to get an idea of how vulnerable your child may be. This subject commonly brings up the issue of the need for vaccines. Science has agreed, practically universally, that there is no harm to getting vaccinated, though we know this is a contentious issue nonetheless.

How easily can your child get sick? Sometimes it depends on how prepared you are!

Worried your children may get sick? Learn about their surroundings! Ask your kids what kind of activities they do with friends. If they do a lot of contact sports, teach them to scrub their hands afterward (but stay away from antibacterial soaps! Here is why).

Was your kid in a schoolyard fight? Make sure they get in the habit of telling you if blood was drawn. Are they going to a place with a lot of tourists? Bring a bottle of Purex! (But don’t overdo it with hand sanitizer, as it can have negative effects too). Adapting to each situation is key!

As adults, many of us use coffee to give us that extra jolt of energy to get our jobs done. So it’s fair to wonder whether a little java can help make our children more productive in school and at home. Another thing to consider is that coffee is becoming more and more accessible to children. It’s not hard to find kids ordering Iced Caps from Tim Horton’s and Frappucinos from Starbucks. However, many people have raised concerns about whether it is safe for kids to drink coffee. And it’s a valid question. Let’s take a look at some of the evidence and discuss what this means.

The benefits of having kids drink coffee

A researcher named Dr. Tomas Depaulis published a study saying coffee could actually give children some benefits that can be helpful in school. For example, a little java could improve concentration in children, which can aid in academic exercises such as test taking. Depaulis also pointed to a separate study in Brazil showing kids who drink coffee with milk are less likely to have depression than other children. However, one obvious caveat applies — coffee must be consumed in moderation.

When coffee can be harmful to children

Giving coffee to children can be a problem because java generally has a lot of caffeine. When children drink too much of it, a number of negative symptoms can arise. This includes jitteriness, nervousness, headaches, difficulty sleeping, trouble concentrating, dehydration and heart issues. Yes, anyone who drinks too much coffee can be susceptible to these problems, but young children appear to be more sensitive to its effects. American guidelines state adolescents shouldn’t get more than 100 milligrams of caffeine a day. Take note that an 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains anywhere from 95 to 200 milligrams.

Our advice? Try these ideas first

If a boost in energy is what’s needed to get your child focused, it’s probably better to get them to go outside and exercise. Much research has shown getting a good workout is a great all-natural way to boost energy. We’ve suggested a variety of outdoor activities  on our blog that stimulate both body and mind.

If your child is stuck in a rut and needs a fresh idea for an assignment, research has shown implementing a few breaks in his or her homework schedule can stimulate creativity. Finally, an inability to concentrate could simply be the result of poor organizational skills. We have some tips on how to improve on that right here.

However, if you absolutely insist on giving your child coffee, make sure you supervise them when they consume it, and moderate their intake. It’s not advisable for very young children to have java regularly. Also, it is best to consult with a physician beforehand, especially if your child has any health conditions, particularly heart or anxiety problems.